36 WITH KITCHENEK IlST THE SOUDAN I thank you most heartily, Mr. Boss ; it seems to me a grand opening. There is no doubt that as our troops leave, the Egyptian army will be thoroughly reorganized, and there will be many openings for a man who knows the language and is ready to work hard, and no doubt the regiments will be largely officered by Englishmen.” That evening Gregory had a long talk with his wife. “ I don’t like the thought of leaving you even for a time, but no doubt when the Mahdi is settled with, you will be able to join me at Khartoum, which I believe is by no means an unpleasant place to live in. Of course I shall come down and take you up. It is a splendid chance and will really be my reinstatement. Once holding a commission in the Egyptian army I should resume my own name and have the future to look forward to. Entering the service as the army is being reorganized I should have a great pull, and should be sure to get on, and be able to write to my father and brother without its appearing that I wanted help of any kind.”

There were tears in Mrs. Hilliard’s eyes, but she said brave: “1 quite agree with you, Gregory. Of course I shall be sorry that you should leave me even for a time, but it seems to me, too, that it is a grand opportunity. You know what a pain it was to me, all the time that we were at Alexandria, that you should be working in such a subordinate position. Now there is an opening by which you will be in a position ere long more worthy of your birth and education. I have no doubt I shall get on very well here. I believe that Hicks Pasha has brought his wife out with him here, and some of his officers will no doubt be married men also, and as the wife of one of his officers I shall, of course, get to know them. I should be selfish indeed to say a word to keep you back, and shall be delighted to think of you associating with other English gentlemen as one of themselves.”

And so it was settled. The next day Gregory called on Hicks Pasha. The latter had made some more enquiries respecting him, and was well pleased with his appearance.